Paris, May 28: Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic expressed his dissatisfaction with the crowd’s behavior during the 2026 French Open. He stated that he hopes to avoid facing any French players in the tournament moving forward. Djokovic appeared visibly upset due to the constant booing from the audience during his match against Valentin Royer.
In the second round, Djokovic triumphed over Royer in four sets, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-3, as he moves closer to securing his 25th Grand Slam title. This marked Djokovic’s second consecutive match against a French player, having previously defeated Giovanni Mapetshi Pericard in the first round.
At one point during the match, Djokovic clapped back at the crowd’s jeering, prompting the umpire to call for silence. The umpire remarked, “Ladies and gentlemen, please show some respect to both players.” Djokovic quickly retorted, “There is no respect for them.” He added, “I hope I won’t have to play against any more French players for the rest of the tournament.”
Djokovic showcased impressive play in the first two sets, effectively reading Royer’s patterns and executing laser-focused shots. However, Royer refused to back down, earning a well-deserved reward for his efforts in the third set, where he leveled the score at 4-4 with a hooked forehand.
In the tiebreak, Djokovic maintained his composure at match point 6-5. Royer fought back with powerful shots and agile movements, but Djokovic’s backhand went long, igniting cheers from the Paris crowd.
After the match, Djokovic expressed relief, stating, “Winning feels different, especially under tough conditions. It was a crucial win for both players. It was very hot, and I believe Royer deserves a lot of credit for his performance. It was a challenging match from the start. It’s normal for things to get tough on the court in such conditions and atmosphere. I hope I won’t have to face any more French players until the end of the tournament.”
With this victory, Djokovic set a record by reaching the third round of Roland Garros for the 21st consecutive time. Additionally, at 39 years old, he became the first player to compete in 120 matches at a single Grand Slam event, surpassing Roger Federer’s record of 119 matches at Wimbledon. Djokovic’s next opponent will be Brazil’s 28th seed Fonseca, who made a comeback after losing two sets to defeat Croatia’s Dino Prizmic and secure his place in the third round.
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